Jan didn’t want to leave her home but decided it was better to do so before a crisis forced the issue. With the guidance of Assisted Living Locators Los Angeles, she and her husband Burt found the perfect senior living community— with a custom evaluation at no cost to them. Watch Jan’s story and read on to learn how we helped her make the right choice with confidence.
After over 25 years of marriage Jan, 82, a therapist, and Burt, producer of the famed TV show M*A*S*H* were at a crossroads – their large canyon home was becoming harder to care for and while they faced no major health issues, Burt was a fall-risk and they were aging. Rather than waiting for a crisis, they decided to explore their options with the guidance of a local senior living advisor and reached out to Sarah Ordover of Assisted Living Locators Los Angeles.
Making A Tough Decision With An Experts Help
Even with preconceived ideas of where they’d like to live, Sarah was able to provide invaluable counsel and ultimately Jan and Burt settled on Watermark Westwood. The community offers both independent and assisted living options, access to many great activities and speakers with its proximity to UCLA, and many residents that share Jan and Burt’s interests. Just weeks later, Burt fell ill and passed away.
“He was very concerned about how I was and how I was going to be,” Jan said. “And living there he had told my friend he could see just how happy I was here. He had some sort of premonition that he didn’t have long to live, and he could see I was really happy here.”
Navigating The Unthinkable In A New Community
Having a community while navigating the unthinkable made all the difference for Jan. The staff was constantly checking in on her, offering comfort and grieving alongside her, and she found solace in fellow residents experiencing similar loss.
“I didn’t really associate this place with Burt, that was our house in Studio City,” she added.
A few years down the road, she misses her husband and home, but is so glad she made the move when and where she did. Jan has formed lasting friendships and has built a community that keeps her engaged everyday.
She has a group of friends that meet for dinner regularly, but they don’t cook, they either meet in the dining room or just call down to have dinner brought up. And her best friend, Susan, even lies on the same floor as her. They love to get together for coffee and joke about their ‘long commute.’ Many of her friends are performers like she used to be (Jan was a comdienne while Susan was a dancer) and the Watermark keeps them busy with movies and activities each week.
“It feels like we’re in high school again!” she exclaimed.
A New Lifestyle For A New Phase Of Life
Ultimately the ease of life and the sense of community made the move well worth it. While Jan misses her home, she’s been back to visit and doesn’t hold onto the past. The flexibility of community living that evolves with you as you age just fits this stage of her life.
So what message does she have to other LA seniors considering the move?
“Don’t hang onto the past, grieve the past. That’s okay, it’s hard but there is another future. It’s just another stage of your life, and I want to live a very long time because I’m in a good place.”
You don’t have to navigate this complicated process alone. We’re here to help and our service is no cost to you, we’re your advocate in finding the right assisted living option for your loved one. Call us today at 310-853-8282 to begin your free, custom evaluation and begin touring Los Angeles area communities today.
About Assisted Living Locators
Since 2003, thousands of families have been helped by Assisted Living Locators, one of the nation’s leading free senior living placement services. The Los Angeles office is operated by Sarah Ordover, owner of Assisted Living Locators Los Angeles. Her team services clients from Glendale and Burbank to Santa Monica, including West Hollywood, Century City, Westwood, and everything in between. The office also represents clients looking for senior living south of Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley in neighborhoods such as Sherman Oaks, Encino, and Studio City. The Los Angeles office can be reached at assistedlivinglocators.com/contact-us.
